Before looking for your course, did you know where you wanted to study?

CountryYes (67%)No (32%)Unknown (1%)City/townYes (65%)No (35%)

SchoolYes (45%)No (53%)Unknown (2%)

Student nationalityAlthough the South African English teaching market continues to draw a large proportion of students from Western Europe, there are signs that a more diverse range of nationalities are choosing to study there. In this year’s South Africa Feedback survey, Western Europeans made up just under half of the total students who took part, down on the 57 per cent recorded in our last South Africa survey in July 2003 (see Language Travel Magazine, July 2003, pages 14-15). A greater number of Africans  up from six per cent in 2003 to 15 per cent this year  and Latin Americans  whose share jumped from three per cent to nine per cent  were evident this year.

Student motivationThe average age of students, at just under 29 years, was relatively high compared with other language travel destinations, such as the UK where the average is 24 (see Language Travel Magazine, April 2006, pages 16-17). This, coupled with the fact that over 60 per cent of respondents were in employment, resulted unsurprisingly in current or future work being the main reason for taking an English course in South Africa. With such serious goals, it also meant that the average hours of English studied per week  24.3 hours  was relatively high. Among those with more academic motivations for learning English, 12 per cent were going on to study in South Africa (up on nine per cent in 2003), while a further nine per cent were hoping to study in another English-speaking country.

Student enrolmentThe average length of stay increased this year, up from 9.3 weeks in 2003 to 10.3 weeks, which may be owing to South Africa’s increasing appeal as a serious language travel destination rather than a vacation location. Agents remain important to the South African market with 42 per cent of students saying they had found out about their school through an agent. However, although 49 per cent of respondents indicated that they had booked through an agency, this was down from 55 per cent in our previous survey.

Standard of the schoolsThe quality of the language schools that took part in our survey was exceptionally high, evidenced by the fact that 99 per cent of students said they would recommend their school to other students (the other one per cent did not reply). Looking at individual aspects of the study experience, the teachers scored highly, with 90 per cent of students saying they were good or excellent. Accommodation was also rated highly, with 80 per cent of students saying it was at least satisfactory. Indeed, host family accommodation, which accounted for the living arrangements of just over half of the students, received outstanding commendations, with 75 per cent of those staying with host families saying the standard of accommodation was good or excellent.

Living in South AfricaSouth Africa represents good value for money in comparison with many other English language destinations, so it comes as no surprise that 47 per cent of students found the cost of living to be lower in South Africa than in their home countries, 76 per cent of whom were Western Europeans and a further 14 per cent from Asia. The average cost for a course plus accommodation was US$311 per week.

The following language schools, associations and accommodation providers advertised in the latest edition of Language Travel Magazine. If you would like more information on any of these advertisers, tick the relevant boxes, fill out your details and send.

ENGLAND Anglolang Academy
of English
Aspect (Australia,
Canada, England,
France, Germany,
Ireland, Malta,
New Zealand,
Scotland, South
Africa, Spain, USA)
Beet Language
Centre
Bell International
(Malta, UK)
Bristol Language
Centre
Cambridge Academy
of English
Churchill House
Cicero Languages
International
Eastbourne School
of English
Eckersley School of
English
English Language
Centre Brighton &
Hove
English UK
Excel English
Language School

Frances King
School of English
King Street College
Lake School of
English
LAL Language and
Leisure
(England, Malta,
South Africa, USA)
Languages Out
There (England,
Germany, Ireland,
Italy, Spain)
London School of
English
Malvern House
Mountlands
Language School
Oxford Brookes
University
Quality English
Queen Ethelburga's
College
St Giles Colleges
(UK, USA)
Study Group
(Australia, Canada,
England, France,
Germany, Ireland,
Italy, New Zealand,
South Africa,
Spain, USA)
University of
Sheffield (England)
West London
Business College
Wimbledon School
of English

USAAmerican Language
Communication
Center
California State
University
Northridge
California State
University
San Marcos
Kaplan Educational
Centers (Canada,
England, USA)
University of
California Santa
Cruz
University of
Houston
University of
Nebraska at Omaha
Zoni Language
Centers